CGS
The Canadian
Goat Society
CGS Programs and Services
Judges 2005
In addition to maintaining the Breed Registries, CGS has developed several programs which aid breeders in selecting and evaluating their animals.
Sanctioned Shows
Upon application, CGS sanctions shows which comply with official regulations regarding the use of trained and certified judges, and the health inspection, identification and registration of all goats entered.
Dairy goats are shown by sex, breed and age. Bucks are shown separately from does. Breeds may be combined to assure sufficient numbers to give official standing to the winner. Kids under one year of age are often divided into two or more classes depending on their date of birth; older doelings that have not yet freshened (given birth) are shown as "dry yearlings" up to the age of 24 months. Does under the age of 24 months that have freshened are shown as "milking yearlings." A dairy goat is fully mature at three or four years of age. Milking does over the age of five are usually called "aged does" and shown in their own class in their breed.
Angora and pygmy goat shows may also be sanctioned by CGS. Each of these breeds has its own specially licensed judges and a scorecard based on the requirements of the breed. For the Angora, mohair density and fineness of fibre count for half of the animal's score, while the pygmy is judged for sturdiness and soundness. These breeds do not require that mature does actually be in milk at the time of the show, since udder conformation is not as important as it is in the dairy breeds.
Contact the CGS Office or a CGS Director for more information about Sanctioned Shows.
Type Classification
Classification compares a dairy goat or a pygmy to the ideal of its breed. The animal is evaluated on conformation in several different areas, given a score in each area, and then given an overall score.
Classifiers trained by the Canadian Goat Society are assigned tours of different regions of the country to evaluate herds which have applied for the service. Because of the need for scheduling, herd owners are required to apply for Classification by a certain date. When the schedule is finalized, the herd owner is given a date and time when the Classifier will arrive to assess the herd.
The Society adheres to a Non-Selective program which requires that all registered animals on the farm be presented for classification. This enables classification data to be used in Buck and Doe Genetic Evaluations, to identify sires and dams whose offspring are consistently superior in soundness and type.
Contact the CGS Office or a CGS Director for more information about Type Classification.
Judges' Training
Judges' Training Conferences are held once a year, alternating between East and West, sponsored by CGS. They may also be arranged by a regional group of members who agree to accept financial responsibility for the Conference.
Typically, the Training Conference starts with a Pre-Training day, led by a Senior CGS Judge, to review CGS Show Rules and the Scorecard for Dairy Goats (or Pygmies or Angoras, depending on the Conference). Applicants are given a written test on this material the second day, and must score at least 75% on each section of the test to continue towards their judging certificate.
On the second day of the Conference, two or more Senior Judges present slides and live animals to the session participants, who get some practice giving accurate, properly phrased reasons for placing one animal above another. On the third day, the applicants are asked to place several groups of four animals, giving oral reasons for two classes. Those who pass this gruelling session are granted a licence to judge sanctioned shows.
Whether candidates are successful or not, they always feel they have gained a great deal from the Training Conference. This is a deeply satisfying learning experience for anyone interested in breeding strong, sound, productive goats, as well as for those who show.
Contact the CGS Office or a CGS Director for more information about Judges' Training.
Milk Testing
Milk production is the purpose of a dairy goat. The most accurate measure of this trait is simple: weigh the milk.
Weighing milk production daily is one way to tell how much milk a doe produces, but a milk testing program where milk is weighed only once a month or so can be almost as accurate. Provincial DHI and DHAS programs are available to goat owners as well as cow dairymen, on a level that suits the purpose of the herd owner.
Owner Sampler testing is done by the owner/operator, who weighs the milk one day a month and takes a sample from each milking. The data returned are not "official" but may be used for management decisions.
Official test involves the use of a Supervisor who is responsible for the conduct of the test. A Test Group may be formed among breeders in an area, where each breeder supervises and is supervised by another once a month. These two latter schemes are considered Official and data entered into an animal's record can earn her a "Star" (*P) for superior production.
A One-Day Milk Test is not as accurate as the year-round test, but can verify an owner's herd records and may earn a *M award for the doe.
Contact the CGS Office or a CGS Director for more information about Milk Testing.
Awards
The Canadian Goat Society recognizes the achievements of individual animals and breeders by conferring Awards.
*P: a doe that has met the standards of milk and/or butterfat production for its age category, on Official DHAS/DHI or Group Supervised Test
*M: awarded to a doe on the basis of a One Day Test, 24 hours of milk production, with milk weight, butterfat content, and stage of lactation taken into account
*S: the son of a *S sire and a *M or *P dam
+S: a buck that has had five tested milking daughters meet the standards for *M or *P status
+*S: the son of a *S sire and a *M or *P dam that has had five tested milking daughters meet the standards for *M or *P status
CH: an animal that has achieved three full "legs," or championship wins, under conditions of adequate competition, at CGS Sanctioned shows.
GCH: a doe that has achieved her CH status as above, and also earned a *P or *M, or a *S buck that has achieved his CH status.
The following Special Awards are presented annually at the CGS Annual Meeting.
- Select Doe:
- awarded to a dairy doe that has met or exceeded criteria based on a system where points must be earned in all of three categories: show, milk production and type classification
- Select Sire:
- awarded to a buck that has five daughters, from at least two dams, which meet the criteria for Select Doe status
- Select Brood Doe:
- awarded to a dairy doe that has three offspring which meet the criteria for and have been awarded Select Doe or Select Buck status
- Master Breeder:
- awarded to CGS members who have bred at least six animals, bucks or does, that have been officially designated as "Select." The title of Master Breeder is awarded to breeders whos have committed themselves to achieving the highest standards in their breeding program, based on an overall goal towards excellence for type and production in dairy goats.
Contact the CGS Office or a CGS Director for more information about Awards.